Tommy Tomorrow
Encyclopedia
Tommy Tomorrow was a long-running science fiction hero published by DC Comics
in several of their titles from 1947 to 1963. He first appeared in Real Fact Comics #6 (January 1947). He was created by Jack Schiff, George Kashdan
, Bernie Breslauer, Virgil Finlay
, and Howard Sherman.
and drawn by Jim Mooney
. Tommy had a kid brother called Tim. In Action 161, it is revealed that Brent Wood is really the son of notorious space pirate Mart Black and that he was adopted by Captain Wood, who killed him.
After a short hiatus, Tommy was retooled and then presented again in Showcase
#41 (1962), but did not get another series. Captain Wood was dropped, giving Tommy an alien from Venus as a partner. Writer Arnold Drake
and artist Lee Elias were the creative team for this version.
In the aftermath of the Crisis on Infinite Earths
, it was shown that the Great Disaster that created Kamandi
's world did not happen, and the boy who would have grown up to be Kamandi instead grew up to become Tommy Tomorrow.
A strange alien force seemingly colonizing the town of Demetri, Kansas makes reference to a "Major Tomorrow" of a group called the Planeteers in Magog
issue 7. It has been since alluded to by various sources that Tommy Tomorrow is going to be a new villain in the series.
's mini-series Twilight, which tried to bring in all of DC future science/space characters into one series (despite the fact that many occurred in different time periods). Because Tomorrow did not know who his parents were, he was unbalanced, and he ran the Planeteers very autocratically, using them against his enemies, such as their rivals, the Knights of the Galaxy
.
According to Starman One Million
, one of the historically significant bearers of the Starman name is Tommy Tomorrow II.
Kamandi
is an alternate universe version of Tommy Tomorrow.
A Captain Tomorrow appears in Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes.
#127-251 (1948-59), then moved to World's Finest
#102-124 (1959-62). Showcase
#41, 42, 44, 46, 47 (1962-63),
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
in several of their titles from 1947 to 1963. He first appeared in Real Fact Comics #6 (January 1947). He was created by Jack Schiff, George Kashdan
George Kashdan
George Kashdan was an American comic book writer and editor, primarily for DC Comics, who co-created such characters as Tommy Tomorrow, Mysto, Magician Detective, and others...
, Bernie Breslauer, Virgil Finlay
Virgil Finlay
Virgil Finlay was an American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator. While he worked in a range of media, from gouache to oils, Finlay specialized in, and became famous for, detailed pen-and-ink drawings accomplished with abundant stippling, cross-hatching, and scratchboard techniques...
, and Howard Sherman.
Fictional character biography
Tommy Tomorrow in Action 127 graduates at Space Port "West Point" in 1988. He is now a Colonel in the Planeteers, a police force in the 21st Century. Gotham is the capital city of not only the Earth but of the solar system. Every planet, every moon, and even many asteroids in the solar system seemed to have some weird alien life form or sentinent race in this series, with even a life-giving ocean on Venus. His first assignment from the Science Bureau was to get some alien fish for the new Interplanetary Aquarium. He meets Joan Gordy of the Interplanetary Radio News, who helps him in this assignment. At the end of the story, he is given the Planeteer medal for getting the fish. The character was meant to be a sort of "future everyman," but he slowly changed into a policeman, and moved to other titles. In these stories, Tommy, later assisted by Captain Brent Wood (first appearance in Action 142, March 1950. Then 148, 152 and 154 onwards, when he became a regular), in their purple uniforms with yellow trim (that included short pants!), flew the space lanes in their patrol craft "Ace of Space." With Action 150, Tommy Tomorrow's adventures were set in the year 2050, as it was realized that 1990 was optimistically too soon for such technology as the stories boasted. Most of his stories were written by Otto BinderOtto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books...
and drawn by Jim Mooney
Jim Mooney
James Noel "Jim" Mooney was an American comic book artist best known as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man artist, and as the signature artist of DC Comics' Supergirl, both during what comics historians and fans call the Silver Age of comic books...
. Tommy had a kid brother called Tim. In Action 161, it is revealed that Brent Wood is really the son of notorious space pirate Mart Black and that he was adopted by Captain Wood, who killed him.
After a short hiatus, Tommy was retooled and then presented again in Showcase
Showcase (comics)
Showcase has been the title of several comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of these series has been to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring "untested" characters in their own ongoing...
#41 (1962), but did not get another series. Captain Wood was dropped, giving Tommy an alien from Venus as a partner. Writer Arnold Drake
Arnold Drake
Arnold Drake was an American comic book writer and screenwriter best known for co-creating the DC Comics characters Deadman and the Doom Patrol, and the Marvel Comics characters the Guardians of the Galaxy, among others....
and artist Lee Elias were the creative team for this version.
In the aftermath of the Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
, it was shown that the Great Disaster that created Kamandi
Kamandi
Kamandi is an American comic book character, created by artist Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The bulk of Kamandi's appearances occurred in the comic series Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth, which ran from 1972 to 1978....
's world did not happen, and the boy who would have grown up to be Kamandi instead grew up to become Tommy Tomorrow.
A strange alien force seemingly colonizing the town of Demetri, Kansas makes reference to a "Major Tomorrow" of a group called the Planeteers in Magog
Magog (comics)
Magog is a fictional character in the comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Kingdom Come #1 , and was created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. In 2009, Magog was ranked as IGN's 75th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time....
issue 7. It has been since alluded to by various sources that Tommy Tomorrow is going to be a new villain in the series.
Other versions
In 1990, an alternate Tommy Tomorrow was a major character in Howard ChaykinHoward Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material...
's mini-series Twilight, which tried to bring in all of DC future science/space characters into one series (despite the fact that many occurred in different time periods). Because Tomorrow did not know who his parents were, he was unbalanced, and he ran the Planeteers very autocratically, using them against his enemies, such as their rivals, the Knights of the Galaxy
Knights of the Galaxy
Knights of the Galaxy was a short-lived science fiction series published by DC Comics. They first appear in Mystery in Space #1, , and starred in the first eight issues of the series...
.
According to Starman One Million
DC One Million
"DC One Million" was a crossover storyline that ran through a self titled, weekly limited series and through special issues of almost all "DCU" titles published by DC Comics in November 1998...
, one of the historically significant bearers of the Starman name is Tommy Tomorrow II.
Kamandi
Kamandi
Kamandi is an American comic book character, created by artist Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The bulk of Kamandi's appearances occurred in the comic series Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth, which ran from 1972 to 1978....
is an alternate universe version of Tommy Tomorrow.
A Captain Tomorrow appears in Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes.
Brief bibliography
He first appeared in short 'stories' in Real Fact Comics #6, 8, 13, 16 (1947-48). He then appeared in Action ComicsAction Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#127-251 (1948-59), then moved to World's Finest
World's Finest
World's Finest may refer to:*A number of DC Comics related media, typically involving the teaming up of iconic superheroes Superman and Batman** World's Finest Comics** World's Finest Team** World's Finest Trinity...
#102-124 (1959-62). Showcase
Showcase (comics)
Showcase has been the title of several comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of these series has been to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring "untested" characters in their own ongoing...
#41, 42, 44, 46, 47 (1962-63),